The effects of 1-MCP on decay and senescence in vegetable soybean pods during storage were in-vestigated. Treatments with 0.5,1, or 2 μl L-1 1-MCP significantly inhibited the senescence process of harves-ted vegetable soybean pods, as manifested in lower levels of ethylene production, respiratory rate, MDA andsuperoxide contents and higher levels of SOD, ASA-POD activities, Vc and chlorophyll contents. Moreover, 1-MCP promoted PAL activity and lignin synthesis, inhibited decay incidence. 2 μl L-1 1-MCP treatment, how-ever, inhibited PAL activity during the later period of storage, thereby increasing decay incidence.